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Children's psychological perceptions and responses to pain and fear during venipuncture: a qualitative study using an
Sherzad Khudeida Suleman1,2, Nizer Yahya3, Stefan Nilsson4
1Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. sherzadkhudeida@uod.ac.
Insights
Children experience pain and fear during venipuncture, but parental support and comfort strategies significantly improve their psychological well-being. Understanding these experiences is key to better pediatric care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Medical Sociology
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- Venipuncture causes significant pain and fear in children, potentially leading to long-term psychological issues.
- Parental presence and interventions like preparation and distraction are known to reduce pediatric procedural distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the psychological experiences of pediatric patients during venipuncture within a specific cultural context.
- To provide a rich description of children's perspectives on pain, fear, and coping mechanisms during venipuncture.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive design involving 14 pediatric patients (aged 6-12) in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
- Data collection utilized the Drawing and Storytelling (DS) technique.
- Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the collected data.
Main Results:
- Three primary themes emerged: pain and fear during venipuncture, parental support as a psychological buffer, and the use of ease and comfort strategies.
- Children reported experiencing pain and fear, but also feelings of pride and relief.
- Parental support and strategies such as preparation and distraction were identified as crucial for reducing anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Childhood venipuncture experiences are multifaceted, involving pain, fear, pride, and relief.
- Parental support acts as a vital psychological buffer, enhancing children's coping mechanisms.
- Implementing child-centered, family-inclusive care is essential for improving pediatric psychological well-being during invasive procedures.
Abstract:
Venipuncture procedures can be highly distressing for paediatric patients, potentially leading to short-term and long-term negative effects on their well-being and future medical experiences. This study aimed to provide a rich description of children's psychological experiences during venipuncture procedures within a specific cultural context. A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Fourteen paediatric patients aged 6-12 years admitted to Heevi Pediatric Hospital's departments in the Duhok province of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq participated in the study. Data were collected using the Drawing and Storytelling (DS) technique and analyzed through thematic analysis. Thematic analysis revealed three primary themes: (1) pain and fear during venipuncture, (2) parental support as a psychological buffer, and (3) ease and comfort strategies. Findings highlight the importance of child-centered, family-inclusive approaches to improve psychological well-being during medical procedures.
Conclusion:
Paediatric patients experience pain and fear during venipuncture, but also feel pride and relief. Parental support and strategies like preparation and distraction help reduce anxiety. Implementing child-centered and family-inclusive care, informed by understanding children's unique perspective and family dynamic, is crucial for improving psychological well-being during invasive medical procedures.
What Is Known:
• Venipuncture causes significant procedural pain and fear in children, with poorly managed distress linked to short-and long-term psychological consequences. • Parental presence and psychological interventions such as preparation, distraction, and praise are established strategies for reducing pediatric procedural distress.
What Is New:
• This is the first qualitative, arts-based study using the Drawing and Storytelling technique to explore venipuncture experiences among Kurdish children in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. • Parental support operates as a dynamic, bidirectional psychological buffer within the family system, and children themselves validate comfort strategies within this culturally underrepresented context..
